Vicente Leñero
Encyclopedia
Vicente Leñero Otero is a Mexican
novelist, journalist, and playwright. He has written numerous books, stories, and plays, including a theatrical adaptation of Oscar Lewis
's The Children of Sanchez
. He was awarded the Premio Xavier Villaurrutia in 2001, and the following year he received the Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes de México (National Prize of Arts and Sciences) for literature and linguistics.
(UNAM) in 1959 with a degree in civil engineering
, Leñero soon turned to writing to support himself. His first novel, La voz adolorida (1961), exhibits the psychological realism of his early writings, consisting of a mentally ill patient's monologue about his life before entering an asylum. Los albañiles followed in 1963, winning the Premio Biblioteca Breve, a prestigious literature award. Praised for its complex structure and symbolism, the work tells the story of a watchman at a construction site.
Soon after, Leñero turned to playwrighting, adapting Los albañiles to drama format in 1970, as well as La carpa (1971) and an adaptation of Los hijos de Sánchez (The Children of Sanchez
, 1972). He was influential in starting the documentary genre of theater in Mexico, and two of his notable works are Pueblo rechazado and El juicio. In the 1980s, Leñero released several successful nonfiction books, La gota de agua, and Asesinato: el doble crimen de los Flores Muñoz.
His work also extends to other genres. Leñero worked as a screenwriter for El callejón de los milagros
, film for which he received an Ariel Award
in 1995 by the Mexican Academy of Film and El crimen del Padre Amaro
(2002, The Crime of Padre Amaro), one of Mexico's highest grossing movies. He also has worked as a journalist for publications such as Claudia, Excélsior
and Proceso
.
He also adapted the story from Fuera del cielo
for its film version to be released in 2007.
Spanish
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
novelist, journalist, and playwright. He has written numerous books, stories, and plays, including a theatrical adaptation of Oscar Lewis
Oscar Lewis
Oscar Lewis was an American anthropologist who is best known for his vivid depictions of the lives of slum dwellers and for postulating that there was a cross-generational culture of poverty among poor people that transcended national boundaries...
's The Children of Sanchez
The Children of Sanchez
The Children of Sanchez is a 1961 book by American anthropologist Oscar Lewis about a Mexican family living in the Mexico City slum of Tepito, which he studied as part of his program to develop his concept of culture of poverty...
. He was awarded the Premio Xavier Villaurrutia in 2001, and the following year he received the Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes de México (National Prize of Arts and Sciences) for literature and linguistics.
Works
Graduating from the National Autonomous University of MexicoNational Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
(UNAM) in 1959 with a degree in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
, Leñero soon turned to writing to support himself. His first novel, La voz adolorida (1961), exhibits the psychological realism of his early writings, consisting of a mentally ill patient's monologue about his life before entering an asylum. Los albañiles followed in 1963, winning the Premio Biblioteca Breve, a prestigious literature award. Praised for its complex structure and symbolism, the work tells the story of a watchman at a construction site.
Soon after, Leñero turned to playwrighting, adapting Los albañiles to drama format in 1970, as well as La carpa (1971) and an adaptation of Los hijos de Sánchez (The Children of Sanchez
The Children of Sanchez
The Children of Sanchez is a 1961 book by American anthropologist Oscar Lewis about a Mexican family living in the Mexico City slum of Tepito, which he studied as part of his program to develop his concept of culture of poverty...
, 1972). He was influential in starting the documentary genre of theater in Mexico, and two of his notable works are Pueblo rechazado and El juicio. In the 1980s, Leñero released several successful nonfiction books, La gota de agua, and Asesinato: el doble crimen de los Flores Muñoz.
His work also extends to other genres. Leñero worked as a screenwriter for El callejón de los milagros
El callejón de los milagros
El callejón de los milagros is an award-winning 1994 Mexican film adapted from the novel by Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz, written by Vicente Leñero and directed by Jorge Fons...
, film for which he received an Ariel Award
Ariel Award
The Ariel is the Mexican Academy of Film Award. It has been awarded annually since 1947. The award recognizes excellence in motion picture making, such as acting, directing and screenwriting in Mexican cinema. It is considered the most prestigious award in the Mexican movie industry.- History :The...
in 1995 by the Mexican Academy of Film and El crimen del Padre Amaro
El crimen del Padre Amaro
El crimen del padre Amaro is a 2002 film directed by Carlos Carrera. It is loosely based on the novel O Crime do Padre Amaro by 19th-century Portuguese writer José Maria de Eça de Queiroz....
(2002, The Crime of Padre Amaro), one of Mexico's highest grossing movies. He also has worked as a journalist for publications such as Claudia, Excélsior
Excélsior
Excélsior is a daily newspaper, founded by Rafael Alducin and published in Mexico City since 1917.During the 1950s and 1960s, the newspaper's editorial stance was of a relatively liberal bent, under the editorship of Julio Scherer...
and Proceso
Proceso (magazine)
Proceso is a Mexican magazine published in Mexico City. It was founded on November 6, 1976 by journalist Julio Scherer García, its current president...
.
He also adapted the story from Fuera del cielo
Fuera del cielo
Fuera del cielo is a Mexican film that debuted in theaters on January 12, 2007. It was distributed in the United States by Lionsgate Films...
for its film version to be released in 2007.
Further reading
English- Vicente Leñero: the novelist as critic, Danny J. Anderson, 1989
- The Mexican novel comes of age, Walter M. Langford, 1971
- Antiheroes: Mexico and its detective novel, Ilan Stavans, 1997
Spanish
- Vicente Leñero, Vicente Leñero, 1967
- Lecturas desde afuera : ensayos sobre la obra de Vicente Leñero, Kirsten F. Nigro, 1997
- Vicente Leñero : ensayos sobre su obra dramática, Domingo Adame, 1994